Hey.

It’s been an absolutely insane week, but more on that later. Less travel than I’ve had in a long time, but between Coral Gables almost being ready to open, and dropping the biggest event(s) in TFC history, safe to say I’ve had my hands full.

All of this made me think back on the past few years in business/life, specifically the time that I turned down a keynote once that would’ve made 25-year-old me sprint to say yes.

Big brand. Cool audience. Nice paycheck. But I passed. Not because I was lazy or above it or too good for anything, but because I’ve learned that the ability to say no is a privilege. One you earn over time and lets you protect the very thing that got you here in the first place.

I want to tell you how I got there, and why it’s one of the most important decisions a founder can learn to make.

(Make sure you get to the end for a big announcement.)

Early On, I Said Yes to Everything

Because I had to.

I was broke, insecure, and trying to make something out of nothing. And when you’re in that place, where your survival depends on momentum, “yes” is the only move.

Someone wants to do a coffee chat? Yes. They want me to hop on a call at 10pm? Yes. Speak at their event for free? Yes. Drive 3 hours to play a pickup game to pitch CROSSNET? You already know.

There was no ego in those moments, just a lot of hunger. I was building the muscle of momentum. And “yes” was the fastest way to stack wins. But something funny happens when you start winning: your yes becomes expensive. Because the more you build, the more every “yes” costs you: time, energy, focus, attention, peace.

You Can’t Afford to Say Yes to Everything Forever

Eventually, the game shifts.

What used to be a step forward starts to become a distraction. At this stage of my life and business, I’ve learned how easy it is to look busy, chase shiny opportunities, and actually fall further out of alignment. The world tells you that you’re “crushing it.” But behind the scenes, your calendar’s bloated, your focus is scattered, and your margin for life? Gone.

That’s why I had to start asking myself a better question: Does this opportunity get me closer to the future I’m trying to build? If the answer’s no, or even a maybe, I let it go. Because I’ve learned that “no” is how you protect your real work.

Here’s How You Figure Out What to Say “NO” To

I keep it simple.

I ask myself three questions:

1. Is this aligned with my long-term vision?

2. Will this move the needle for my family, my freedom, or the future of what I’m building?

3. Am I doing this because I feel like I “should,” or because I truly want to?
   

If I can’t answer “yes” to at least two of the three, I pass. No matter how sexy it looks on paper. And here’s the kicker: saying no is respect for yourself, not rejection of those that are willing to have you in. Respect for the work, for your values, for the version of yourself you’re becoming.

The “YES” That Changed My Life

The Founders Club started with one of the riskiest “yes” decisions of my career. Aaron and I didn’t know if it would work. We knew we wanted to create something real for entrepreneurs, something deeper than another group chat or Slack community.

But the time? The energy? The risk? It felt like a lot. And if we were trying to optimize our time, saying “yes” to a whole new venture might’ve looked like a bad idea. But we trusted the gut. We said yes to building something that felt aligned. And we gave it everything.

That one “yes” has led to every win we’ve stacked since,  because it was the right yes. Chances are, if you’re reading this, you’re either one of those “yes’” or well on your way to becoming one. This was the one “yes” that aligned with our vision, our mission, and the kind of life we want to build, and this is only the beginning.

The “Yes” Is Why We Get to Build Things Like This

Founders Forum | NYC | September 19

We’re throwing down the biggest event in Founders Club history. One day. One city. 200+ of the most driven, down-to-earth, battle-tested founders in one room.

This is the most ambitious, high-energy, no-BS event we’ve ever built.

Rooftop moments
Game-changing workshops
Fireside convos and cold plunges
Meaningful connection with real entrepreneurs

And we’re doing it in the heart of NYC, our city, the place where it all started. We’re less than 45 tickets away from being completely SOLD OUT. So if this is your year to get around a gang of absolute killers, build real relationships, and plug into something bigger, now’s the time.

18+ months all building to this one moment. Still feels surreal to type this.

See you there.

And oh yeah, did I mention that our main stage is called the “Foreplay” stage? Can’t believe that I get to call this work…

Your Time is Your Most Valuable Asset

Use it wisely.

Don’t say yes out of guilt, pressure, or scarcity. Say yes to things that pull you forward, things that align with your values, and say yes to the hard but right decision that feels like the next level of your life.

And say no, proudly, to everything else. This is the season where founders either scale with intention or burn out with distraction.

Choose wisely.

Chris